Surround meaning in English

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Definition

to surround: to enclose, to encircle, to be all around verb
The garden is surrounded by a wall.
The police surrounded the fugitives, but they escaped through a tunnel.
the surrounding area: the neighborhood, the region, the locality noun

Examples

  • "There's been a media circus surrounding their sweatshops and innumerable counts of worker exploitation."
  • "We are surrounded."
  • "Taking in the salty sea air, surrounded by men in uniform, vomiting my guts out."
  • "The fans blow air over the cartridges, and the scent of the perfume wafts into the surrounding area."
  • "Brian : Just then the ladies surrounded us."
  • "Bruno died surrounded by his staff and his faithful dog Stink."
  • "Warbuckle was arrested yesterday in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas on suspicion of illegally hunting bears on the property surrounding his 50-acre ranch and estate."
  • "It looks like some sort of land surrounded on all sides by water..."
  • "Industry pundits, however, are already calling the new line an attempt to capitalize on the hype surrounding environmental awareness."
  • "Bruno : I'm well aware, Miss Bliss, of the negative press surrounding "Shmike"."
  • "Ray Upton, there are 5 B-2 stealth bombers currently surrounding your aircraft, each carrying missiles with a nuclear payload of 6 megatons."
  • "Now Moira, I want you to guess where I am. I will give you a clue, I am surrounded by a thousand samba dancers in sparkling costumes."
  • "We have your laboratory surrounded by a team of 300 highly-trained military operatives, 17 Apache helicopters and 3 cats that followed us here."
  • "We have your laboratory surrounded by a team of 300 highly trained military operatives, 50 ninjas on loan from a sushi restaurant, 17 Apache helicopters and 3 cats that followed us here."
  • "It looks like some sort of land surrounded on all sides by water."
Exercise 1
Fill in the blank below with the appropriate terms from the broadcast. You may need to conjugate the verbs to fit the sentence.

This verb means to "encircle" or "encompass". "The police the fugitive and eventually he surrendered".

This verb means to bring an aircraft such as a plane or helicopter to earth. "I'm trying to the plane in the garden, but it is really difficult without my glasses".

Fill in the blank below with the appropriate terms from the broadcast. You may need to conjugate the verbs to fit the sentence.

This verb means to "encircle" or "encompass". "The police surrounded 1 the fugitive and eventually he surrendered".

This verb means to bring an aircraft such as a plane or helicopter to earth. "I'm trying to land 2 the plane in the garden, but it is really difficult without my glasses".
1 surrounded: The verb "to surround" means to encircle or encompass something. In this broadcast, the American pilot informs Ray and Rachid that their helicopter has been "surrounded", meaning that American aircrafts are situated all around the helicopter. Essentially, the pilot is telling Ray that there is no escape!
2 land: The verb "to land" means to bring a vessel or vehicle to earth (terra firma). In this broadcast, the US air force demands that Ray and Rachid "land" their helicopter immediately.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks below with terms used in the broadcast.

This adjective means 'encircled' or 'encompassed'.
'You are by the police on all sides - there's no escape!'

This verb means to 'imagine', 'suppose', or 'conjecture' about something.
'You'll never what I'm planning to do... You'll never imagine what it is!'

This noun describes a 'hint', 'suggestion', or 'indication'.
'A detective's job is to solve mysteries using the left at the scene of a crime, such as fingerprints and footprints.'

This adjective describes something which is 'extraordinary', 'improbable', or 'incredible'.
'The story that Pinocchio told me was totally . There's no way that a talking cricket exists!'

Fill in the blanks below with terms used in the broadcast.

This adjective means 'encircled' or 'encompassed'.
'You are surrounded 1 by the police on all sides - there's no escape!'

This verb means to 'imagine', 'suppose', or 'conjecture' about something.
'You'll never guess 2 what I'm planning to do... You'll never imagine what it is!'

This noun describes a 'hint', 'suggestion', or 'indication'.
'A detective's job is to solve mysteries using the clues 3 left at the scene of a crime, such as fingerprints and footprints.'

This adjective describes something which is 'extraordinary', 'improbable', or 'incredible'.
'The story that Pinocchio told me was totally unbelievable 4. There's no way that a talking cricket exists!'
1 surrounded: 'Surrounded' is the right answer. To be 'surrounded' is to be 'encircled'. In this broadcast, João says 'I am surrounded by a thousand samba dancers in sparkling costumes', meaning that a thousand dancers are all around him. In this particular exercise, we can imagine that a criminal has been 'trapped' or 'surrounded' by a group of policemen.
2 guess: 'Guess' is the correct answer. The verb 'to guess' shares a similar meaning with the terms 'to imagine', 'to suppose', or 'to conjecture'. For example, 'I can't possibly guess how old your dog is'. This term is often used idiomatically. In this broadcast, João tells Moira 'I want you to guess where I am', he is asking her to imagine or make a suggestion as to his location.
3 clues: 'Clues' is the correct answer. A 'clue' is an 'idea', a 'hint', or a 'suggestion'. When a detective looks for a 'clue', he is looking for evidence or an indication to help him in his investigation. The term 'clue' is often used idiomatically, such as in the expression 'I have no clue', meaning 'I have no idea' or 'I really don't know'. In this broadcast, João offers to give Moira 'a clue' as to his location.
4 unbelievable: 'Unbelievable' is correct. An 'unbelievable (story)' is one which is 'difficult to believe', 'improbable', or 'incredible'. It can also be used as a superlative term to say that something or someone was 'fantastic' or 'great', which is what João is expressing when he says that the Carnival atmosphere is 'unbelievable'.

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